It wasn’t all bad

Nepal has almost doubled its wild tiger population in under a decade, raising hopes for a global recovery of the big cats. The latest survey suggests that there are 235 Bengal tigers living in the wild in the small Asian nation, up from only 121 in 2009. Worldwide, there are believed to be about 3,900 tigers left. Poaching and the illegal trade in animal parts is the biggest threat they face: Nepal’s conservation efforts have largely focused on policing its national parks.

The remarkable story of Wojtek, the Syrian brown bear who was adopted by Polish troops during the war, and fought alongside them against the Nazis, is to be made into an animated film. As an orphaned cub, Wojtek was taken in by the Poles when they were stationed in Iran. According to legend, he was later enlisted as a private, so that he could travel with his comrades to Italy, where – during the Battle of Monte Cassino – he carried crates of artillery shells to resupply the troops. In 1945, fearing for his safety if he went home with them to Poland, his friends left him behind in Scotland. He ended up in Edinburgh Zoo, where he died in 1963. A Bear Named Wojtek is set for release on the anniversary of VE Day in 2020.

The wreck of HMS Endeavour, the ship sailed by Captain Cook on his voyage of discovery to Australia in 1770, may have been found off the coast of Rhode Island. Experts who have spent 25 years analysing wrecks in the area, after discovering that the ship was scuttled there during the American War of Independence, say they think they have located the vessel, and will shortly release a 3D image of it. Definitively identifying the Endeavour, which will require further funding and excavation work, would solve one of the great maritime mysteries.